Blog · October 19, 2026
What tax do I pay when I buy a house in Italy?
Ask the Scout · Episode 9
The short answer
EP09 · What tax do I pay when I buy a house in Italy? It depends on the seller and on whether the house becomes your main home. Buying from a private seller, a holiday home pays a 9% registration tax plus two fixed taxes of 50 euros each. If it is your main home, the registration tax drops to 2%, at least 1,000 euros, but you need residence in that town or must move there within 18 months.
In plain English
Rates as of October 2026, from the Agenzia delle Entrate. The main-home relief (prima casa) also applies in the town where you work, and not to houses in the luxury land registry categories A/1, A/8 and A/9. A private buyer can ask the notary to work out the registration tax on the land registry (cadastral) value instead of the price; buying from a builder with VAT, different rates apply (4% for a main home, 10% otherwise). General info: for your own case, check with your notary or commercialista.
Ask the Scout #9 by Piedmont Scout #MoveToItaly #Piedmont #ItalyRealEstate
Holiday home
- Registration tax 9%
- Two fixed taxes of 50 euros each
Main home
- Registration tax 2%, at least 1,000 euros
- Two fixed taxes of 50 euros each
- Residence in that town, or move there within 18 months
- Who is the seller?
These rates are for buying from a private seller
- Is it your main home?
You need residence in that town, or must move there within 18 months
- Holiday home
Registration tax of 9%, plus two fixed taxes of 50 euros each
- Main home
Registration tax of 2%, at least 1,000 euros, plus the same two fixed taxes
Transcript
Buyer: Every buyer pays the same purchase tax, right?
Scout: No. From a private seller, it depends on whether it's your main home.
Buyer: So what do I pay for a holiday home?
Scout: Nine percent registration tax, plus two fixed taxes of fifty euros.
Scout: For a main home, two percent, at least one thousand euros.
Scout: That needs residence in that town, or a move there within 18 months.
Buyer: So nine percent, or two for a main home!
Scout: Right, as of October 2026. Check with your notary.
Made with AI: the characters are animated and the voices are AI-generated.
Sources
- Agenzia delle Entrate, Casa: Imposte e agevolazioni
- Agenzia delle Entrate, Agevolazione acquisto prima casa – Che cos'è
- Agenzia delle Entrate, Acquisto prima casa – A chi interessa
Facts checked: 19 October 2026. General info, not legal or tax advice. Check your own case with a notary or commercialista.
More from Ask the Scout
- Can an American, a Brit or a Canadian buy a house in Italy? (episode 2)
- Is the purchase tax on the price I pay? (episode 10)
- Can I pay for an Italian house in cash? (episode 8)
Related guides
- Relocating to Italy: research the area first
- Living around Gavi: a newcomer's orientation
- How Piedmont Scout works
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